Pendennis Castle - English Heritage

Website

Telephone

01326 316594

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

Discover the wartime secrets of Cornwall's greatest fortress. Pendennis Castle was built by King Henry VIII to defend against possible attack by Spain and France. Throughout its 450-year history, Pendennis Castle has faced new enemies, right up to the Second World War. See a Tudor gun deck in action, and experience the sights and sounds of battle in the interactive exhibition at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

Explore the cells of the WWI guard house, and relive the drama of an enemy attack on the WWII observation post. Then descend through secret tunnels to the big guns of Half Moon Battery. Explore centuries of war time history or simply relax , enjoy the scenery and indulge in a Cornish cream tea in the newly refurbished tea room. In its superb coastal setting, Pendennis offers magnificent views of Falmouth and the Fal Estuary.

Discounts

Collection details

Archives, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Weapons and War

Events details are listed below. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all. For events that don't have a specific date see the 'Resources' tab above.

Living history or re-enactment

Pirates Ahoy!

30 March — 3 April 2015 *on now

Dust off your cutlass, get set for fearsome tales of dastardly deeds and discover Pendennis’ pirating past as you join us for fun and games around the castle. You'd better be good or you might end up walking the plank! Parrots optional!

Admission

Adult £7.50 Child £4.50 Concession £6.80 Family £19.50. An additional £1 will be charged on standard admission for every child, member and non member, to help us fund this entertainment activity.

Workshop, club or activity

Tudor Castle Capers

6 — 10 April 2015

Step back in time over 400 years and imagine life in Henry VIII’s mighty coastal fortress. See if you have what it takes to defend the castle in have-a-go battle drills and be spellbound by stories of days gone by. A hands-on day out for the whole family.

Admission

Adult £7.50 Child £4.50 Concession £6.80 Family £19.80. An additional £1 will be charged on standard admission for every child, member and non member, to help us fund this entertainment activity.

Living history or re-enactment

Clash of Knights

27 — 28 May 2015 11am-5pm

Chain-mailed and adrenalin-fuelled, massed ranks of armoured knights meet head on. Feel the heat of the battle as four teams fight with clubs and shields in this contest of skill and strength. Tensions will rise, alliances will be made and broken but only one team will triumph. Revel in the atmosphere of the encampment as it buzzes with the activity of everyday medieval life. Enjoy merry music while your budding young knights test their bravery on the field and burn off energy in battle drills.

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.

Face to face resources

Cornwall, King and Castle Discovery Visit

Join Lady Anne Fanshawe to find out what life was like at Pendennis Castle during the English Civil War. Develop source investigation skills through examining documents and artefacts from the time and work in teams to discover what life was like for Paliamentarians and Royalists during the castle siege in 1646. This interactive tour uses role play, costume, artefacts and investigation to reveal what life was like in the Tudor period. Can you work as a team to work out how the canons were fired? Will you be able to make butter in the castle kitchen?Duration: 1 hourKey Stage: 2, 3, History, Literacy

How to obtain

Call 0117 975 0720 to book a 1 hour session each weekday during term time. Price £60 per group of up to 30 pupils until April 2009, £75 per group after April 2009. Visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.19482 for more information.

Face to face resources

The Home Front: Soldiers and Sirens Discovery Visit

Join this interactive tour to discover what life was like for soldiers at Pendennis Castle during World War II. Experience what it was like underground during an air raid. Work as a team to see how the guns were fired and use your detective skills to examine the World War II artefacts.Duration: 1 hourKey Stage: 2, 3, History, Drama, Literacy

How to obtain

Call 0117 975 0720 to book a 1 hour session each weekday during term time. Price £60 per group of up to 30 pupils until April 2009, £75 per group after April 2009. Visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.19482 for more information.